Car giant sees a drop in profits despite sale rise

The Japanese firm, which has its UK manufacturing plant at Burnaston, said that a reason for profits falling in the three months to the end of March was because it had spent more on research and development.

The company, which makes the Auris and Avensis at its Derbyshire plant, said it achieved profits of 297 billion yen (£1.7 billion), down on the 313.9 billion yen it made during the same period last year.

In Europe, where Burnaston-built cars are sold, it achieved sales of 844,000 – an increase of almost 45,000.